15 October 2004	Friday	29 Shaban 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 14: Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Thursday warned that opposition's 'anti-democratic and shameful' attitude during the passage of the bill on President Pervez Musharraf's uniform could derail democracy.

"Perhaps (a) few political elements are determined to end the democratic and parliamentary system in the country," he said in a statement, adding "the religious parties are becoming a tool in their hands". He said the opposition had not learnt from history.

"Could breaking mikes and pulling down the chair of the speaker be called democratic acts?" he asked, recalling that "such awful behaviour" at Dhaka had blocked democracy in the country.

He said although opposition claimed to be the champion of democracy it had played the 'worst anti-democratic role' during the passage of the bill which, he added, was 'pre-planned'.

He said the speaker wanted to run the house smoothly as was evident from his invitation to PPP leader Atizaz Ahsan and other opposition MPs to speak on the bill.